Historic preservation training in St. Mary's County frames reuse as a sustainability strategy

The county archaeologist for Calvert County told members of the St. Mary's County Historic Preservation Commission that historic preservation is “inherently a sustainable practice” and outlined ways preservation can reduce energy use, support local economies and sustain social fabric.

The training, presented to the commission as a sustainability module, emphasized three linked aspects of preservation: social and cultural sustainability, economic sustainability and environmental (ecological) sustainability. The presenter said reuse and careful repair often require less energy than demolition and new construction and cited the Secretary of the Interior’s illustrated guidelines on sustainability as a reference for commissions.

The presentation used Baltimore’s Miller’s Court redevelopment as a primary case study. In a video shown during the session, a Miller’s Court project speaker said the $22,000,000 rehabilitation produced about 35,000 square feet of office space and 40 residential units and helped “build on those neighborhoods of…